Quote:
Originally Posted by John21
The need for a solution presupposes a problem. The problem, as Camus sees it, is that when we reflect on the state-of-affairs of the world our expectations for meaning and purpose aren’t met. In other words, there’s something wrong with the world and we can’t do anything about it other than cope through various means. My question is why should we expect to find meaning and purpose when we reflect upon things just because meaning and purpose are present when we’re acting?
Good question.
To Camus, as far as I understand, it is not a question of whether we should or should not have the expectation of a meaningful world. A world in which our actions and our suffering have grander purpose, or even - any objective purpose at all.
To Camus, it is a given that all human beings naturally have a tendency to seek this out throughout their lives. Especially so, in times of difficulty and times of suffering, as pointed out by Craig. Even more so, in times of
unnecessary suffering. In such times, it appears as if there may indeed be a purpose, and that purpose may be
to suffer.
Thus Camus does not ask - should we have this expectation. He takes it as a given that we all do. Not all the time in our lives of course. But throughout our lives, whenever we take the opportunity to truly reflect.
If you disagree with this proposition, so fundamental to his writings and the writings of many associated authors, such as Dostoyevsky in particular, then Existentialism may not be for you.